Cittaslow (Slow City or town), formed in Italy in 1999, has its origins in the Slow Food movement which was formed to counteract fast food restaurants. Cittaslow aims to preserve and enhance the traditional way of life and the unique character of market towns. All Cittaslow towns are committed to the Cittaslow values which are:
v Protecting the Natural Environment.
v Developing People- Friendly Infrastructure.
v Enhancing the Quality of Urban Fabric.
v Supporting Local Produce, Products and Traditions.
v Providing Hospitality to Visitors.
v Encouraging Active Participation in Community Life.
Diss Town Council together with the Diss Community Partnership participated in a pilot study on Cittaslow carried out in 2005 by the East of England Development Agency.
Following Aylsham, in March 2006 Diss became the third UK town to achieve Cittaslow status. Diss Cittaslow is managed by a committee, which is led by Diss Town Council. This committee is made up in a similar way to the South Norfolk Alliance in that its members include not only town councillors, but also representatives of South Norfolk Council and community organizations, including the Diss Community Partnership, Diss Churches Together and Diss Business Forum.
Promotion and support for Cittaslow is incorporated in the South Norfolk Community Strategy 2007. Funding has been obtained from the EU led Leader+ programme for projects to maintain and improve the attractiveness of Diss as a market town by attracting tourists and supporting local business and promoting employment.
As a result of the funding, a Cittaslow Co-ordinator was appointed and the Cittaslow Resource Centre was launched in June 2007. Since the completion of the Leader+ project in August 2008, Cittaslow projects are continuing to be pursued through the Cittaslow Committee.
Diss is very active in the Cittaslow movement both nationally, through membership of the Cittaslow UK board, and internationally through links with European Cittaslow towns. As of December 2009, there are now nine Cittaslow UK towns: Perth, Mold, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Ludlow, Aylsham, Cockermouth, Linlithgow and Sturminster Newton with more towns seeking to join the movement.
Representatives from Diss visited a Cittaslow town, Midden-Delfland in the Netherlands in July 2009 click here for the details and in February 2010 Diss Town Mayor Jane Trippett-Jones & Cittaslow Committee Chairman, Tony Palmer welcomed the Mayor of Midden-Delfland to Diss in a return visit
For more information on Cittaslow and Slow Food see the links below;
For more information on Slow Food Waveney:
